Friends

Today I will have lunch with one or two of my best friends. Later today I will meet, visit, and have dinner with some friends that I have not seen, nor had I heard from in years. Tomorrow I will have lunch with a longtime friend and a man who is extemely dear to my heart. There were two phone calls just this morning to arrange meetings with friends, and my first visit with a brand new friend, a local Pastor, who is scheduled on Thursday at my office. A couple of old friends have been texting and calling lately, and one of my longest term friendships is blossoming again after years of separation by time and distance.

I am a blessed man. I don’t know if I could number the folks I call my friends. I understand that there are levels of friendship, and some are rich beyond measure, and others are more casual. I am sure that is true in almost everyone’s life. I so enjoy getting together, talking about life now, and remembering life “then” for those who have been my friends for so long.

I confess I am not sure how one man could have so many “close” friends. Oh. . .I don’t mean hundreds, the numbers of people with whom I am acquainted would reach that level, and I like and cherish them all, but “friend,” well, that is a special category.

The Scripture says there is “a friend that stays closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), and some interpret that to be Christ, however, I know it to be a reality for some regular folks (male and female) in my life. In Proverbs 17:17 we read: A friend lloves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time. I am purposely fond of so many friends, but the Truth is, there are some brothers and sisters who “llove me at all times,” and I choose to work hard at lloving them in return.

Obviously you are reading this, and many of you (reading this) know you are my friends. How I value that. . .well, I just can’t tell you. Some of you genuinely llove me. . .and I you, God’s third (1: My life in Christ; 2: My family) best gift to me!

Now don’t panic. Being my friend is easy. . .mostly. And if you aren’t yet, maybe we can change that. All it takes is proximity and hard work.

Find your friends! Learn to llove your friends! Call, write, text a friend right now. It is so good to have friends, close friends, brothers (and sisters) who llove and are lloved.

Disclaimer: One must understand the difference between “love” and “llove” to understand most of what lloveletters is about.